US20020089668A1 - A forklift having a light source and lens combination that provides a shaped light beam - Google Patents

A forklift having a light source and lens combination that provides a shaped light beam Download PDF

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Publication number
US20020089668A1
US20020089668A1 US10/092,475 US9247502A US2002089668A1 US 20020089668 A1 US20020089668 A1 US 20020089668A1 US 9247502 A US9247502 A US 9247502A US 2002089668 A1 US2002089668 A1 US 2002089668A1
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Prior art keywords
lens
laser light
fork
light source
forklift
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Granted
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US10/092,475
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US6795187B2 (en
Inventor
Kazumasa Kokura
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Nippon Yusoki Co Ltd
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Nippon Yusoki Co Ltd
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
    • B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
    • B66F9/00—Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes
    • B66F9/06—Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes movable, with their loads, on wheels or the like, e.g. fork-lift trucks
    • B66F9/075—Constructional features or details
    • B66F9/0755—Position control; Position detectors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a forklift in which when a load is to be loaded on a pallet or a rack, the pallet or the like is illuminated with a laser beam so that its position is visually recognized.
  • a light spot projected onto a pallet 17 has a spot-like shape.
  • a light spot projected onto the pallet 17 has a spot-like shape.
  • a light spot 18 a is not formed as indicated by a chain line 18 b.
  • a light spot 23 a is not formed as indicated by a chain line 23 b.
  • a forklift in which a mast upstands in front of a body of the forklift, a lift bracket is mounted on the mast in a vertically movable manner, and a fork is engaged with the lift bracket, wherein a laser light source which illuminates an area in front of the fork is attached to the lift bracket or the fork, and a light beam emitted from the laser light source is formed into a shape which laterally elongates, via a lens.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view of an optical pallet detecting device in the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows light spots in a pallet face and formed by an optical pallet detecting device of the conventional art.
  • FIG. 3 shows light spots in a pallet face and formed by an optical pallet detecting device in the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view showing a forklift having the optical pallet detecting device in the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating an attachment state on a lift bracket.
  • FIGS. 6A to 6 F shows a lens having a sectional cross shape according to the present invention, in which FIG. 6A is an top side view of the lens; FIG. 6B is a left side view of the lens; FIG. 6C is a front side view of the lens; FIG. 6D is a right side view of the lens; FIG. 6E is a back side view of the lens; and FIG. 6F is a bottom side view of the lens.
  • a linear light spot 20 a is formed which extends over right and left ends and a center beam portion that cooperate to form fork insertion openings 17 a between a deckboard and an edgeboard.
  • An optical pallet detecting device 1 comprises a connector 3 which is connected to an electric energy source via an electric wire 8 , a laser light source 4 , a lens 5 , and a lens fixing member 6 . These components are fixed to the inside of a hollow cylinder 10 .
  • the lens 5 has a cylindrical shape having the center axis which elongates in the direction perpendicular to the sheet in FIG. 1.
  • a linear light beam emitted from the laser light source 4 is refracted by the cylindrical lens 5 to be expanded into a fan-like shape in a plan view as shown in FIG. 1, i.e., a shape which laterally elongates in a horizontal plane in the illumination plane. Since the lens 5 has a cylindrical shape, the light is not vertically expanded.
  • FIG. 4 is a side view.
  • the forklift 11 comprises the body 12 , a mast 13 , a lift bracket 14 , and a fork 15 .
  • the lift bracket 14 is vertically moved, and, in accordance with this movement, also the fork 15 is vertically moved.
  • the optical pallet detecting device 1 is attached to the lift bracket 14 , at a position where the device can perform illumination along the same plane as the tines of the fork and on a straight line.
  • the laser light emitted from the detecting device 1 forms a light spot having a predetermined length in the direction of a horizontal plane or a direction parallel to a pallet.
  • the light spot When the light spot impinges on a pallet, the light spot has a shape which laterally elongates, as indicated by 20 a , so that a wide range including the insertion openings 17 a of the pallet 17 is irradiated.
  • the load 19 can be surely irradiated regardless of the placement position of the load 19 , as indicated by 22 a.
  • the optical pallet detecting device 1 is attached to the position where the device can perform illumination along the same plane as the tines of the fork and on a straight line.
  • the forklift 11 is advanced after the light spot is formed as indicated by 20 a in FIG. 3, therefore, the fork 15 can be surely inserted into the insertion openings 17 a of the pallet 17 .
  • the lens 5 is configured so as to be detachable from the cylinder 10 , the light spot of the laser light can be changed so as to be formed into a spot-like shape in the same manner as the conventional art described above, thereby enabling the device to be used more conveniently.
  • the lens 5 is a cylindrical convex lens
  • a cylindrical concave lens may be used in place of the cylindrical convex lens 5 so as to expand the laser light in one direction.
  • FIGS. 6A to 6 F a lens 50 may be used in place of the lens 5 .
  • FIGS. 6C and 6E are a front side view and a back side view of the lens 50 , respectively.
  • a reference numeral 51 denotes a center of the cross on the lens surface.
  • the lens 50 is formed in such a manner that a lens having a spherical body is cut to be in section in the shape of the cross, so that the lens 50 is seen in the shape of the cross when looking at the lens 50 from the front side direction or the back side direction.
  • the center 51 of the cross of the lens 50 is illuminated with a beam of the laser light from the front side direction from which the lens 50 is seen in the shape of the cross.
  • the lens refracts the laser light so as to expand the laser light in accordance with the shape of the lens 50 .
  • the laser light is emitted outside of the lens 50 to illuminate the pallet 17 .
  • a shape of the laser light illuminating the pallet 17 is a cross.
  • the user can understand a position of the fork 15 in the vertical direction from a horizontal line of the cross shape of the laser light illuminating the pallet 17 . Moreover, the user can understand a position of the fork 15 in the horizontal direction from a vertical line of the cross shape of the laser light illuminating the pallet 17 . As a result, the position of the fork can be simultaneously understood in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by using the lens 50 .
  • the shape of the illuminated cross of the laser light has a certain degree of length in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, if the center of the cross has a little gap from the pallet, the user can easily adjust the center of the cross to the desirable position without missing the illuminated position of the laser light.
  • the lens 50 may be configured so as to be detachable from the cylinder 10 , so that the light spot of the laser light can be changed so as to be formed into a spot-like shape or a line shape according to each of situations, thereby enabling the device to be used more conveniently.
  • the light beam emitted from the laser light source is formed into a lateral shape which elongates in the width direction of a pallet.
  • the light spot 20 is surely formed in a gap between a load and another load 9 , the insertion openings of the pallet 17 , and the like. Namely, the light spot 20 a which laterally elongates is always formed.
  • the invention attains an effect that the operator is prevented from losing sight of the light spot 20 a and hence loading and unloading works can be smoothly conducted.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

There is provided a forklift in which a mast upstands in front of the body of the forklift, a lift bracket is mounted on the mast in a vertically movable manner, and a fork is engaged with the lift bracket, wherein a laser light source which illuminates an area in front of the fork is attached to the lift bracket or the fork, and a light beam emitted from the laser light source is formed into a shape which laterally elongates, via a lens.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • 1. Field of the Invention [0001]
  • The present invention relates to a forklift in which when a load is to be loaded on a pallet or a rack, the pallet or the like is illuminated with a laser beam so that its position is visually recognized. [0002]
  • 2. Description of the Related Art [0003]
  • In a conventional forklift using a laser light source, as shown in FIG. 2, a light spot projected onto a [0004] pallet 17 has a spot-like shape.
  • As described above, in an optical pallet detecting device using a laser light source, conventionally, a light spot projected onto the [0005] pallet 17 has a spot-like shape. As shown in FIG. 2, when the light beam impinges on an insertion hole 17 a of the pallet 17, therefore, a light spot 18 a is not formed as indicated by a chain line 18 b. When the light beam impinges on a gap between adjacent loads 19, a light spot 23 a is not formed as indicated by a chain line 23 b. As a result, there arises a problem in that sight of the impinging position is not lost.
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • According to the invention, the problem is solved by a forklift in which a mast upstands in front of a body of the forklift, a lift bracket is mounted on the mast in a vertically movable manner, and a fork is engaged with the lift bracket, wherein a laser light source which illuminates an area in front of the fork is attached to the lift bracket or the fork, and a light beam emitted from the laser light source is formed into a shape which laterally elongates, via a lens.[0006]
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view of an optical pallet detecting device in the invention. [0007]
  • FIG. 2 shows light spots in a pallet face and formed by an optical pallet detecting device of the conventional art. [0008]
  • FIG. 3 shows light spots in a pallet face and formed by an optical pallet detecting device in the invention. [0009]
  • FIG. 4 is a side view showing a forklift having the optical pallet detecting device in the invention. [0010]
  • FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating an attachment state on a lift bracket. [0011]
  • Each of FIGS. 6A to [0012] 6F shows a lens having a sectional cross shape according to the present invention, in which FIG. 6A is an top side view of the lens; FIG. 6B is a left side view of the lens; FIG. 6C is a front side view of the lens; FIG. 6D is a right side view of the lens; FIG. 6E is a back side view of the lens; and FIG. 6F is a bottom side view of the lens.
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
  • Function [0013]
  • When a light beam is emitted toward a pallet from a laser light source which is attached to a lift bracket or a fork so as to illuminate tines of the fork, the light beam which is expanded by the lens into a fan-like shape in a plan view impinges on the pallet. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, a linear light spot [0014] 20 a is formed which extends over right and left ends and a center beam portion that cooperate to form fork insertion openings 17 a between a deckboard and an edgeboard.
  • Description of the present invention [0015]
  • The description will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Firstly, an optical pallet detecting device will be described with reference to FIG. 1. An optical [0016] pallet detecting device 1 comprises a connector 3 which is connected to an electric energy source via an electric wire 8, a laser light source 4, a lens 5, and a lens fixing member 6. These components are fixed to the inside of a hollow cylinder 10.
  • The [0017] lens 5 has a cylindrical shape having the center axis which elongates in the direction perpendicular to the sheet in FIG. 1. A linear light beam emitted from the laser light source 4 is refracted by the cylindrical lens 5 to be expanded into a fan-like shape in a plan view as shown in FIG. 1, i.e., a shape which laterally elongates in a horizontal plane in the illumination plane. Since the lens 5 has a cylindrical shape, the light is not vertically expanded.
  • An example in which the device is mounted on a forklift will be described with reference to FIG. 4 which is a side view. The [0018] forklift 11 comprises the body 12, a mast 13, a lift bracket 14, and a fork 15. The lift bracket 14 is vertically moved, and, in accordance with this movement, also the fork 15 is vertically moved.
  • The optical [0019] pallet detecting device 1 is attached to the lift bracket 14, at a position where the device can perform illumination along the same plane as the tines of the fork and on a straight line.
  • According to this configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, the laser light emitted from the detecting [0020] device 1 forms a light spot having a predetermined length in the direction of a horizontal plane or a direction parallel to a pallet. When the light spot impinges on a pallet, the light spot has a shape which laterally elongates, as indicated by 20 a, so that a wide range including the insertion openings 17 a of the pallet 17 is irradiated. When the light spot impinges on a load 19 placed on the pallet 17, the load 19 can be surely irradiated regardless of the placement position of the load 19, as indicated by 22 a.
  • As described above, the optical [0021] pallet detecting device 1 is attached to the position where the device can perform illumination along the same plane as the tines of the fork and on a straight line. When the forklift 11 is advanced after the light spot is formed as indicated by 20 a in FIG. 3, therefore, the fork 15 can be surely inserted into the insertion openings 17 a of the pallet 17.
  • When the [0022] lens 5 is configured so as to be detachable from the cylinder 10, the light spot of the laser light can be changed so as to be formed into a spot-like shape in the same manner as the conventional art described above, thereby enabling the device to be used more conveniently.
  • While the [0023] lens 5 is a cylindrical convex lens, a cylindrical concave lens may be used in place of the cylindrical convex lens 5 so as to expand the laser light in one direction.
  • In addition, as shown in FIGS. 6A to [0024] 6F, a lens 50 may be used in place of the lens 5. Each of FIGS. 6A to 6F shows the lens 50 in view from each of six different directions three-dimensionally perpendicular to each other. FIGS. 6C and 6E are a front side view and a back side view of the lens 50, respectively. In FIG. 6C, a reference numeral 51 denotes a center of the cross on the lens surface. The lens 50 is formed in such a manner that a lens having a spherical body is cut to be in section in the shape of the cross, so that the lens 50 is seen in the shape of the cross when looking at the lens 50 from the front side direction or the back side direction.
  • In the case of the [0025] lens 50, as shown in FIG. 6C, the center 51 of the cross of the lens 50 is illuminated with a beam of the laser light from the front side direction from which the lens 50 is seen in the shape of the cross. The lens refracts the laser light so as to expand the laser light in accordance with the shape of the lens 50. Thereafter, the laser light is emitted outside of the lens 50 to illuminate the pallet 17. A shape of the laser light illuminating the pallet 17 is a cross.
  • Accordingly, in the case where an user uses an optical pallet detecting device having the [0026] lens 50, the user can understand a position of the fork 15 in the vertical direction from a horizontal line of the cross shape of the laser light illuminating the pallet 17. Moreover, the user can understand a position of the fork 15 in the horizontal direction from a vertical line of the cross shape of the laser light illuminating the pallet 17. As a result, the position of the fork can be simultaneously understood in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction by using the lens 50.
  • Because the shape of the illuminated cross of the laser light has a certain degree of length in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, if the center of the cross has a little gap from the pallet, the user can easily adjust the center of the cross to the desirable position without missing the illuminated position of the laser light. [0027]
  • As mentioned above, the [0028] lens 50 may be configured so as to be detachable from the cylinder 10, so that the light spot of the laser light can be changed so as to be formed into a spot-like shape or a line shape according to each of situations, thereby enabling the device to be used more conveniently.
  • According to the invention, as described above, the light beam emitted from the laser light source is formed into a lateral shape which elongates in the width direction of a pallet. The [0029] light spot 20 is surely formed in a gap between a load and another load 9, the insertion openings of the pallet 17, and the like. Namely, the light spot 20 a which laterally elongates is always formed. As a result, the invention attains an effect that the operator is prevented from losing sight of the light spot 20 a and hence loading and unloading works can be smoothly conducted.

Claims (4)

What is claimed is:
1. A forklift comprising:
a main body;
a mast disposed in front of the main body;
a lift bracket mounted on the mast, the lift movable in vertical;
a fork engaged with the lift bracket;
a laser light source disposed on the lift bracket or said fork, for illuminating an area in front of said fork; and
a lens disposed in front of the laser light source,
wherein a light beam emitted from said laser light source via the lens is formed into a shape which laterally elongates.
2. The forklift as claimed in claim 1 wherein the lens has a cylindrical shape having the center axis in parallel to the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the light propagation direction.
3. A forklift comprising:
a main body;
a mast disposed in front of the main body;
a lift bracket mounted on the mast, the lift movable in vertical;
a fork engaged with the lift bracket;
a laser light source disposed on the lift bracket or said fork, for illuminating an area in front of said fork; and
a lens disposed in front of the laser light source,
wherein a light beam emitted from said laser light source via the lens is formed into a cross shape.
4. The forklift as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lens has a cross shape in a view from a direction, the laser light illuminates a center of the cross shape of the lens.
US10/092,475 1999-02-04 2002-03-08 Forklift having a light source and lens combination that provides a shaped light beam Expired - Fee Related US6795187B2 (en)

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JP11-27025 1999-02-04
JPP.HEI.11-27025 1999-02-04
JP11027025A JP2000226199A (en) 1999-02-04 1999-02-04 Forklift
US09/497,643 US6388748B1 (en) 1999-02-04 2000-02-03 Forklift having a light source and lens combination that provide a shaped light beam
US10/092,475 US6795187B2 (en) 1999-02-04 2002-03-08 Forklift having a light source and lens combination that provides a shaped light beam

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EP2184254A1 (en) * 2008-11-11 2010-05-12 Deutsche Post AG Guidance and collision warning device for forklift trucks
US20130182237A1 (en) * 2011-08-23 2013-07-18 Still Gmbh Industrial Truck with Lifting Height Measurement System
US20160200240A1 (en) * 2015-01-09 2016-07-14 J.W. Speaker, Corporation Tracking and lighting systems and methods for a vehicle
JP2017019595A (en) * 2015-07-08 2017-01-26 株式会社豊田自動織機 Load taking method in fork lift and fork lift
JP2017019596A (en) * 2015-07-08 2017-01-26 株式会社豊田自動織機 Travel control method and travel control device in load taking in unmanned fork lift

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US10859998B2 (en) 2015-11-19 2020-12-08 Vis Vires Ip, Llc System, apparatus, and method for autonomous activation of an optical forklift alignment apparatus using sensors
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US10435284B1 (en) * 2016-07-22 2019-10-08 Fozi Androus Load laser guidance system for forklift
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2184254A1 (en) * 2008-11-11 2010-05-12 Deutsche Post AG Guidance and collision warning device for forklift trucks
WO2010054785A1 (en) * 2008-11-11 2010-05-20 Deutsche Post Ag Guidance and collision warning device for forklift trucks
US20110234389A1 (en) * 2008-11-11 2011-09-29 Deutsche Post Ag Guidance and collision warning device for forklift trucks
US20130182237A1 (en) * 2011-08-23 2013-07-18 Still Gmbh Industrial Truck with Lifting Height Measurement System
US8763759B2 (en) * 2011-08-23 2014-07-01 Still Gmbh Industrial truck with lifting height measurement system
US20160200240A1 (en) * 2015-01-09 2016-07-14 J.W. Speaker, Corporation Tracking and lighting systems and methods for a vehicle
US9623794B2 (en) * 2015-01-09 2017-04-18 J.W. Speaker Corporation Tracking and lighting systems and methods for a vehicle
US10433386B2 (en) 2015-01-09 2019-10-01 J.W. Speaker Corporation Tracking and lighting systems and methods for a vehicle
JP2017019595A (en) * 2015-07-08 2017-01-26 株式会社豊田自動織機 Load taking method in fork lift and fork lift
JP2017019596A (en) * 2015-07-08 2017-01-26 株式会社豊田自動織機 Travel control method and travel control device in load taking in unmanned fork lift

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FR2789377B1 (en) 2003-06-27
FR2789377A1 (en) 2000-08-11
US6795187B2 (en) 2004-09-21
GB2346362A (en) 2000-08-09
GB2346362B (en) 2003-03-26
JP2000226199A (en) 2000-08-15
US6388748B1 (en) 2002-05-14
GB0002645D0 (en) 2000-03-29
DE10004594A1 (en) 2000-08-17

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